Method of manufacturing corsets to be worn by females during preg



UNT E STATS nr reins.

METHOD 0F MANUFACTURING CORSETS TO BE WOR-N BY FEI/[ALES DURING PREG- NANCY 0R SUFFERING UNDER UIVIBILICAL HERNIA OR- ABDOMINAL WEAKNESS.

Speccation of Letters Patent No. 1,940, dated January 21, 1841.

To all w/wm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH ADAMS, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Corsets to be Worn by Females During Pregnancy -or While Suffering from Umbilical Hernia or Abdominal Weakness.

These improvements, the principles thereof and manner in which I have contemplated their application, by which they may be distinguished from other inventions of a like character, together with such parts or combinations I claim as my invention and consider original and new, I have herein described and set forth, which description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings herein referred to composes my specification.

Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved corset. Fig. 2, is the appearance of the same in front. Fig. 3 is a back view exhibiting the lacing &c.

I do not intend my invention to be worn for the purposes for which the common corsets or stays are generally used, as it is longer, both before and behind, and could not be worn in ordinary circumstances, without great inconvenience. It is to be applied to pregnant females to support the protruded abdomen, and at the same time to allow of its increase in size without any injurious increase of pressure from time to time during the period of pregnancy. For this purose, I insert in a proper manner2 in the center of the front of the corset, a wide steel spring or busk extending to the bottom of the same, the position of which is shown at a a, Fig. 2, and its'curved shape at a a a, Fig. 1. The bottom of this spring or busk is curved so as to readily adapt itself to the distended part, and it will be perceived on examination of Figs. 1 and 2, that it extends downward a much greater distance than the back of the common corset or down to and beneath the very lowest part of the abdomen. In the drawing this busk is represented as covered wit-h or inserted in the material of which the corset is made. On each side of the central busk a a is another spring orbusk Z) Z), c c Fig. 2, but of less width. These latter springs are also slightly curved in order to adapt them to the sides of the projecting abdomen. It will readily be perceived, from the peculiar shape of these several springs,that those parts of the body which are dilated during pregnacy rest on and are supported by the same, and that any st-rain o-r weight falling upon the springs is (by the connection, of these parts with the shoulder straps Z cl d d), conveyed to and supported by the shoulders. The shoulder straps Z (Z Z Z are formed in part or in front, where they are attached to the body of the corsets, of some suitable elastic substance, such as caoutchouc band or webbing or other proper material, e e (Figs. 1 and 2), the elasticity of said bands, relieving any burdensome or undue pressure upon the shoulders.. Steel springs or strips of whalebone, (the portions of which are represented at f f-g g Figs. 1 and 2), are inserted in the body of the corset and so curved as to support the projecting parts of the breast and sides of the abdomen.

Long slits or openings 7L L z' z' la 7c Z Z are made in the front of the corset, between the springs or busks as represented in Fig. 2, and these openings are secured together by lacings m m m, m, &c., of common caoutchouc or other suitable elastic cord or tape. Now it will be seen that as the body expands or increases in size, during pregnancy, the elastic cords or lacings will be easily stretched or spring apart in proportion to the enlargement of the abdomen and at the same time no inconvenient pressure on these parts will be experienced.

It will be seen by inspecting Fig. 2 of the drawings that the front of the corset, or rather the several parts, which put together compose the same, are cut or stitched straight or curved outward from the center as shown by the blue dotted lines, instead of inward as in the common corset, which renders the corset loose or leaves a space between the breast and the abdomen, while the back of the corset fits closely to the form. This peculiar arrangement should be attentively observed as it is this (in connection with the several slits in front, which allow the parts to expand horizontally) which renders a corset of such length as I have described capable of being worn or used; for while the steel busk and curved shape of the bottom of the corset, serve to support the distended parts and prevent them from protruding downward, the looseness above the abdomen allows the parts to rise upward, in lcase the patient is in a sitting or stooping posture.

Tere the corset constructed in any other manner, or so that it would tit closely between the breast and abdomen, there would be no room for the upward expansion Aoit' the swelling parts and the corset could not be worn with cut great inconvenience and pain especially when the patient should attempt to sit or stoop. y*

The corset when worn is laced behind as seen in Fig. 3, and in other respects is formed, put together and manufactured of the same or similar materials to those gen-V with caoutchouc or other suitable elastic cord or strings), with the steel busi: or spring a a a, curved and shaped as described and represented in the drawings, so that while the said husk in conjunction with thecurved form, which it imparts to the bottom of the corset, serve to support the distended parts, the several slits in front allow the parts as they enlarge, to expand outward or horizontally, and the looseness of the corset above the abdomen permits them to rise upward, when sitting or stooping, by this arrangement eiectually removing any liability of an inconvenient `or injurious pressure upon the abdomen as it protrudes or increases in size.

In testimony that the above is a true description of my said invention and improvement I have hereto set my signature this second day of May, in the year eighteen hundred and forty.

E. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, FREDERICK BOYD. 

